National Republican., 1887-07-12
What CaIifornians Say of Senator STAN
ford.


The Alta Californian Of San Francisco,
the leading Democratic paper Of the Pacific
coast, reviews editorially the article in the
NATIONAL REPUBLICAN OF June % on "The
Political Contest in 1885," In which Senator
Stanford was mentioned as possible Re-
publican candidate for the presidency.
The Alta says, of coure, that 1t believes
h.psmoerat 6. win be elected, and 1t discusses
all the probable candidates mentioned by
tho NATIONAL REPUBLICAN in the article
spoken Of, and closes with this splendid
eulosy Of Senator Stanford:
Coming to Gov, Stanford, there aro many
Ieusons which would make his candidacy Pc
cUlisrly acceptable TO the country, ana espe-
tinlly to the people of the Pacific coast. There
is feeling that in the distribution of national
honoIs the Pacific coast has been too long
sighted. The Pacific coast has never had a
President or candidate. The selection of Gov.
Stanford By the Republican party as its nom!.
nee would undoubtedly arouse the dormant
tnthusinsm of the party on this coast to its
highest pitch. The fact that he was Callfor.
nia's first war governor, and, In fact. her first
Republican governor, would tell largely IN his
favor Bis deep sympathy with the masses,
tie careful thought which he has
given to tho labor question, a.
evirced by his recent paper on
cooperative labor, would rally to his support
thousands Of thoughtful laboring men through
out the country The fact that while the
great corporation of which he is president
gives employment TO 10000 men, the relations
between employer and emplOye have alway"
teen exceptionally harmonious, would afford
convincing proof that expressed desire and
public effort to bring abou. more intimate
association between labor and eapltsl on more
advantageous terms for the former were not
mere manifestations of demagogy and clap
trap appeal to the masses, hut were dictated
ty the truest spirit of philanthrophy and
noble and generous desire for the ameliora-
tlons 'oftbe condition of all mankind His
woil.known conservatism and his vast exeeu.
tive ability and experience would insure him
the support Of all thoughtful men in his party
Though man of vast wealth, he has shown
that he regards his fortune as u means and not
Nh end. lie has shown that he views his
wealth us trust, aud that his main desire is
10 see hOw It may be best disposed of in a
manner to produce thegrcatest amount OF good
TO his fellow-men. His endowment of the uni
versity which is to bear the name Of his de-
ceased son presents spectacle of generosity
more than royal in its magnifcence- some
thing that in the history of the world has
never before been witnessed. Practically he
has devoted the aceumuiations of his life to
the people whose good he has made his aim
il would be remembered, too, that even that
vast wealth. of which he has voluntarily
divested himself for the benefit of his
fellows, was accumulated by means which,
while they brought to him that
rich reward, increased hundred fold
the wealth aud prosperity OF the whole
country between the Pacific ocean aud the
Rocky mountains. 1t was mainly to his en-
terpIise and by his efforts that the two cx-
tremities Of the republic were connected with
links of iron and steel, and that the whole
state OF California is to-day grldironed with
miles Of railroad every mile Of which has
aided in the building of new homes and the
settlement of what would otherwise to-day be
waste md desert lands, with Industrious
thriving, and conteuted families All these
things have made the name of Gov. Stanford
dear 10 the heart of all CaliforniGns, while
winning for him the respect Of the entire
American people.
On the whole, we are convinced that there "
no way in which the Republican party could
show its good judgment better than in the
selection Of Leland Stanford as its standard
bearer in the next presidential campaign. As
Democratic paper we hope aud believe thai
the next President will be a Democrat, but tn !,
fortune Of u presidential election eau never ba
pIedictcd with absolute certainty, and If 1t
should happen that the candidate of the Re-
publican parry were elected, the most conserya-
tive and the hest elements of the Democratic
party would feel that much of the sting of de-
feat was removed by the fact that the admin
trstiOn of tho affairs OF the nation had passed
into the hands Of one In every way SO well
fitted 10 administer them a. Gov. Stanford,
The Oakland (Cal,) Tribune, In comment
irg On the same subject, says:
We notice that the NATIONAL REpUpLrcAS
has been saying some very kind things In
reference TO the possible candidacy OF Leland
Stanford for thepr sdency. We understand that
this lisa position which IS not sought after by Mr.,
Stanford, but he has once said substantially
that the onice is one which no man has right
10 refuse. Ana we assure the editors of the
RrrrDLlCAE, aud Of ali other journals, that 10
more popular name could be suggested for this
ccait, and we believe that no other would pre-.
sent mole elements of strength in any parts of
the American Union. Here Leland Stanford
has been weighed In the balance and never
found wanting. No man ever lived who ever
entered upon the discharge Of public duty
with more gbnegation of self than he. Vast as
are his personal interests, they are ignored or
laid out OF consideration when they come in
conflict with public duty. No class of men on
this coast, where he Is beet known, have ever
made an unkiud criticism OF the manner IN
which be has performed his public duty, aud
the fact that for twenty-five years he has had
IN amy Of men In his employ, and there has
never been strike or friction in all the vast